V4 Report: New Balkan route a problem. Croatia is absolutely correct to tighten patrols to stop the illegal migrants from entering in an effort to reach the “rich” EU countries.

V4 Report: New Balkan route a problem. Croatia is absolutely correct to tighten patrols to stop the illegal migrants from entering in an effort to reach the “rich” EU countries.

According to the Irish Times, after crossing overland from Turkey to Greece, the migrants travel through Albania and Montenegro to Bosnia, which has registered more than 9,000 such arrivals this year – well over 10 times the number counted in 2017.

Some 4,000 migrants are now in Bosnia (where did the other 5,000 go?), the vast majority in northern areas near its border with Croatia. They are sometimes violent. A Moroccan man was stabbed to death there in a fight with other migrants in June, and another clash last week injured about 10 migrants.

** This situation is not sustainable and the migrants must be prevented from moving onward. If not, the illegal entries will continue and this game will never end.

Two possible solutions:

1. The illegal entries must be stopped at the source (Greece) and the migrants sent back immediately. Turkey is a safe country and the EU is paying them for this task.

However, we highly doubt the Greek government would comply. However, they should be presented with another alternative if they refuse help from others in Europe to secure their border.

2. The original Balkan route was closed due to a chain reaction of nation states closing their borders. When one closed their border, another followed suit. This is actually a natural and normal reaction.

Macedonia 🇲🇰 was a key country that basically sealed-off Greece and discouraged many others from using Greece as a point of entry to reach Germany. The entries to Greece subsequently fell significantly.

However, since then, the smugglers and migrants discovered another route and the flow to Greece recently increased again. If Bosnia closes their border, then eventually Montenegro and Albania will be forced to follow.

Greece would then be faced with the choice of either securing their border or possibly being swamped. We say “possibly” because once the migrants receive the message that they will not move on from Greece, the numbers would likely fall again, as they did after the original Balkan closing.

*** There are two other issues. Serbia is granting visas to Iranians, who quickly disappear in an attempt to move northward. The other issue is the task of deporting the migrants “stuck” in the Balkans outside of Europe. They cannot stay.

As usual, the so-called policies of “tolerance and humanity”, based on emotions rather than critical thought, eventually turn into mayhem and a complete disaster for all involved.

Once again, there is no substitute for a secure border that provides order and security for all in Europe. As the leaders of the V4 have advised for the last three years, it is best for all to help the refugees in or closer to their homes. Check out us at Facebook.com/v4report